Magic Roll In Nick-of-time

Anderson Triple-doubles Mavs In 121-103 Victory

January 25, 1992|By Barry Cooper Of The Sentinel Staff

Give the Orlando Magic, perhaps headed for a high spot in the draft lottery, credit for one thing: They're winning the games they should be winning. And they're on last year's pace that resulted in 31 victories.

The Magic, behind Nick Anderson's first career triple-double, hammered the Dallas Mavericks, 121-103, Friday night at Orlando Arena. The Magic are 10-30, the same record they had at this time last season.

Anderson, continuing to emerge as a clutch performer, turned in a dazzling performance with 32 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. He was the one player the Mavericks could not stop.

''We are hoping that will become just a normal game for him,'' Magic coach Matt Guokas said. ''Not only the scoring, but the passing and the defense.''

Orlando won for the second time in three games. The Magic play host to the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight.

Anderson's progress since the start of the season is a result of his work ethic.

''I was just out there playing basketball,'' Anderson said. ''Things happened for me. I hit some shots. I got rebounds, and I hit the open man. I felt good coming into the game. Hopefully, I can feel that good every night.''

Hoping the Magic will grant him a contract extension after this season, Anderson has been working extra hard. He has one season left on an original 4-year deal that pays about $700,000 a season.

''I feel that I can compete with the best of them,'' Anderson said. ''I know how to hold my ground. Tonight, I went against an All-Star guard (Rolando Blackman) and just played basketball.''

The outcome can't be considered an upset. The Magic have learned to master the Mavericks. This was Orlando's fifth victory in a row over Dallas.

The Magic inflicted a lot of damage early, thoroughly satisfying an announced sellout crowd of 15,151 by rushing to a 22-4 lead.

Dallas had gone ahead, 4-1, but the Magic answered with a 21-0 rally. That all but finished off the Mavericks, who have lost 12 of their last 13 games.

''You are going to have nights like this,'' Mavericks forward Doug Smith. ''Unfortunately, we are having too many nights like that.''

With Anderson and the other players performing so well, Orlando had only to guard against lapses in concentration. Guokas wouldn't allow them to let up. When Dallas slashed the Magic's lead from 20 points to 14 in the third period, Guokas called a timeout. The Magic then pushed the lead to 19.

''Over this last stretch of eight or nine games, we've really played some good defense in various sections of the game,'' Guokas said.

In the fourth quarter, the Magic relaxed a bit and Dallas cut the lead to 12. But reserve guard Anthony Bowie, who scored 12 of his 14 points in the fourth period, scored seven points in a row to help the Magic pull away again.

Terry Catledge had 19 points for the Magic and Jeff Turner and Scott Skiles 17 apiece.